Category: Free Software Foundation

BOSTON, Massachusetts, USA — Thursday, September 12th, 2019 — A
global community of students, teachers, and activists are taking part
in the Defective by Design
campaign’s 13th annual International Day Against
DRM. Though from different
backgrounds, countries, and perspectives, participants in the campaign
share the common cause of opposing Digital Restrictions
Management
(DRM), a widespread technology that places heavy restrictions on how
people access digital media.

On Saturday, October 12th, there will be two events held in Boston: a
protest outside of the Pearson Education offices at 501 Boylston
Street, followed by an evening “hackathon,” or collaboration session,
on unrestricted and truly shareable educational materials at the
offices of the Free Software Foundation (FSF) at 51 Franklin Street.

Typically, DRM is used to restrict a user’s access to music, films,
and software. It is embedded in both physical and digital media, such
as the “copy protection” on a Blu-ray disc or the mechanism that
prevents recording (or even taking screenshots) from services like
Netflix. Increasingly, however, it has been extending into the realm
of education. Pearson Education and similar publishers’ move to a
“digital-first” method of textbook distribution is an example of
this. This new method of educational publishing forces students away
from the reliability of a paper book, moving them instead to a
temporarily “rented” text that can only be accessed under strictly
specific conditions and for a limited amount of time. In many cases
systems like these also require a constant Internet connection for
authentication purposes, to make sure the reader is authorized to
access their book, and additionally collects telemetric data based on
their reading habits.

“DRM is about more than just ‘bad’ file formats or streaming
services. It is more than just an inconvenience. DRM is a concerted
attack on free society,” said Greg Farough, campaigns manager at the
FSF. “It isn’t just that DRM is an ineffective method of protecting
copyright, or that it undermines historic preservation of digital
media. It is fundamentally unethical and anti-education. The
International Day Against DRM is one way we can empower people to take
a strong stance against DRM, and educate others on its importance. I’m
very glad that this year we will be able to voice our dissent against
DRM, as well as demonstrate that it is possible to envision a world
without it.”

Now in its 13th year, Defective by Design has a long history of
campaigning for a user’s rights to control their media and the devices
they use to interact with it. Likewise, being the anti-DRM campaign of
the FSF, it is inspired by the spirit and community
of the global movement for user freedom. This year, Defective by
Design is not only encouraging people to protest against Pearson, but
is also sponsoring local and remote “hackathons” on collaboratively
edited and shareable textbooks like those produced byFLOSSManuals andWikibooks.

The campaign is encouraging people to participate in a variety of
online and in-person actions, coordinated through the Web site
dedicated to the anti-DRM cause atDefectivebyDesign.org. To be part
of Defective by Design’s year-round anti-DRM campaigns, supporters canjoin the low-volume Action Alerts email
list. Those interested in
more active participation in the fight against DRM are invited to join
the FSF’s LibrePlanet
wiki
to document the new developments and threats DRM poses to user freedom
worldwide.

Along with blockchain technologies, artificial intelligence, and
algorithms, DRM has been a hot issue this year, and has been reported
on widely in the press:

Reacting to Microsoft’s announcement that they would be closing down
their ebook store (and with it, the forcible deletion of many of its
users ebook libraries),Wired
wrote a popular article on the “ebook apocalypse” users of the service
faced.

The MIT Press issued a landmark study on the use of DRM in streaming
media services, analyzing both the technical and ethical
implications of the popularity of Spotify and its ability to
leverage DRM-restricted media to gather data and even
psychologically manipulate its users. During their work on Spotify
Teardown: Inside the Black Box of Streaming
Music, the
authors received a cease and desist notice from the company.

Writing for Locus
Magazine,
author and technologist Cory Doctorow wrote on the “broken promise”
of DRM, calling the shift from a user’s “owning” a piece of digital
media to “licensing” it a return to feudalism.

An article addressing the shutdown of the digital video service
UltraViolet appeared inForbes,
highlighting it as a Hollywood failure to control the flow of
digital media.

The campaign is inviting other organizations to participate, by
contacting info@defectivebydesign.org to have their names added to a
list of supporters, and to discuss possible actions. In 2018,
organizations like the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Creative
Commons, iFixIt, and the Document Foundation were partners.

About Defective By Design

Defective by Design is the Free Software Foundation’s campaign against
Digital Restrictions Management (DRM). DRM is the practice of imposing
technological restrictions that control what users can do with digital
media, creating a product that is defective by design. DRM requires
the use of proprietary software, and is a major threat to computer
user freedom. It often spies on users as well. The campaign, based athttps://defectivebydesign.org, organizes anti-DRM activists for
in-person and online actions, and challenges powerful media and
technology interests promoting DRM. Supporters can donate to the
campaign athttps://crm.fsf.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=40.

About the Free Software Foundation

The Free Software Foundation, founded in 1985, is dedicated to
promoting computer users’ right to use, study, copy, modify, and
redistribute computer programs. The FSF promotes the development and
use of free (as in freedom) software — particularly the GNU operating
system and its GNU/Linux variants — and free documentation for free
software. The FSF also helps to spread awareness of the ethical and
political issues of freedom in the use of software, and its Web sites,
located at fsf.org and gnu.org, are an important source of information
about GNU/Linux. Donations to support the FSF’s work can be made athttps://donate.fsf.org. Its headquarters are in Boston, MA, USA.

Media Contact

The CLE seminar is a regular program from the FSF, where a select a
group of experts and experienced instructors in the free software community
provide a comprehensive overview of current affairs in GPL Enforcement
and Legal Ethics. We invite legal professionals, law students, free
software developers, and anyone interested in licensing and compliance topics to
join. While registration is open to the public, this seminar is a special
opportunity for legal professionals and law students who can
potentially earn continuing legal education (CLE) credits for
participating (approval pending). The program will be available shortly on the event page.

Register now for early registration prices. Regular pricing
starts on September 16th. FSF Associate members, as always, get discounted
entry. Registration for this event closes on Friday October 4th, 2019.

Attendees of the full day seminar will learn about
copyleft and other important concepts in the GNU family of licenses,
best practices in the free software licensing enforcement process,
ethical considerations important to any lawyer working with clients
involved in free software, and other current topics in free software licensing.

We are also opening up the event for potential sponsorships; offering
a unique opportunity to align with the FSF and the professional ethics
considerations in free software. Sponsors will receive complimentary
passes to this event, as well as additional benefits. For more
information, you can contact us at zoe@fsf.org.

The sessions will be led by experts and respected leaders in the free
software community, including:

A longtime free software activist and founder of FSF Latin
America, Oliva brings decades of experience in the free software
movement to the FSF board. In the community, he is held in especially
high regard for being the chief developer of the GNU Linux-libre
project, a version of the kernel Linux that removes all nonfree bits
from the kernel’s source code, enabling users around the world to run
fully free versions of the GNU/Linux operating system, and is a
program of vital importance in the cause for software freedom. For his
deep commitment and tireless work in free software, Oliva was the
recipient of the 2016 Advancement of Free Software award given
annually by the FSF.

Aside from being a contributor to the GNU Project since 1993, Oliva is
an accomplished public speaker and author on the importance of
software freedom. He worked as a computer engineer at Red Hat from
2000 to 2019, making large contributions to crucial components of the
GNU toolchain like GCC and the GNU C library. Most recently he has
announced the founding of the 0G project, a vision for mobile
phones that free users from the constant danger posed by bulk
surveillance.

Upon his nomination to the board, Alexandre stated, “In 2017, I
borrowed from Edward Snowden’s 2016’s LibrePlanet speech and qualified
the FSF as the lighthouse of the free software movement, the reliable
reference point that lights the path to software freedom. How
exciting, and what a wonderful challenge it is to become part of a
team that has to figure out what the path to be lighted is, and how to
keep the lights shining through such dark times!”

Commenting on Oliva’s nomination, FSF executive director John Sullivan
said, “Alex’s steadfast commitment to free software principles, along
with his technical contributions aimed at helping others around the
world live free lives, have inspired so many of us at the FSF and in
the free software movement. This is great news for our members and
supporters — the FSF will benefit enormously from his increased
involvement.”

About the Free Software Foundation

The Free Software Foundation, founded in 1985, is dedicated to
promoting computer users’ right to use, study, copy, modify, and
redistribute computer programs. The FSF promotes the development and
use of free (as in freedom) software — particularly the GNU operating
system and its GNU/Linux variants — and free documentation for free
software. The FSF also helps to spread awareness of the ethical and
political issues of freedom in the use of software, and its Web sites,
located at https://fsf.org and https://gnu.org, are an important
source of information about GNU/Linux. Donations to support the FSF’s
work can be made at https://donate.fsf.org. Its headquarters are in
Boston, MA, USA.

More information about the FSF, as well as important information for
journalists and publishers, is at https://www.fsf.org/press.

Media Contact

This is ThinkPenguin’s second batch of devices to receive RYF
certification this spring. The FSF announced certification of
seven other devices from ThinkPenguin on March 21st. This latest
collection of devices makes ThinkPenguin the retailer with the largest
catalog of RYF-certified devices.

“It’s unfortunate that so many of even the simplest devices out there
have surprise proprietary software requirements. RYF is an antidote
for that. It connects ethical shoppers concerned about their freedom
with companies offering options respecting that freedom,” said the
FSF’s executive director, John Sullivan.

“I’ve spent the last 14 years working on projects aimed at making free
software adoption easy for everyone, but the single greatest obstacle
over the past 20 years has not been software. It’s been hardware. The
RYF program helps solve this problem by linking users to trustworthy
sources where they can get hardware guaranteed to work on GNU/Linux,
and be properly supported using free software,” said Christopher Waid,
founder and CEO of ThinkPenguin.

While ThinkPenguin has consistently sought certification since the
inception of the RYF program — gaining their first certification
in 2013, and adding several more over the years since — the pace at
which they are gaining certifications now eclipses all past efforts.

“ThinkPenguin continues to impress with the rapid expansion of their
catalog of RYF-certified devices. Adding 14 new devices in a little
over a month shows their dedication to the RYF certification program
and the protection of users it represents,” said the FSF’s licensing
and compliance manager, Donald Robertson, III.

To learn more about the Respects Your Freedom certification program,
including details on the certification of these ThinkPenguin devices,
please visit https://fsf.org/ryf.

About the Free Software Foundation

The Free Software Foundation, founded in 1985, is dedicated to
promoting computer users’ right to use, study, copy, modify, and
redistribute computer programs. The FSF promotes the development and
use of free (as in freedom) software — particularly the GNU operating
system and its GNU/Linux variants — and free documentation for free
software. The FSF also helps to spread awareness of the ethical and
political issues of freedom in the use of software, and its Web sites,
located at https://fsf.org and https://gnu.org, are an important
source of information about GNU/Linux. Donations to support the FSF’s
work can be made at https://donate.fsf.org. Its headquarters are in
Boston, MA, USA.

More information about the FSF, as well as important information for
journalists and publishers, is at https://www.fsf.org/press.

About ThinkPenguin, Inc.

Started by Christopher Waid, founder and CEO, ThinkPenguin, Inc., is a
consumer-driven company with a mission to bring free software to the
masses. At the core of the company is a catalog of computers and
accessories with broad support for GNU/Linux. The company provides
technical support for end-users and works with the community,
distributions, and upstream projects to make GNU/Linux all that it can
be.

Reporting to the executive director, the campaigns manager works on our campaigns team to lead, plan, carry out, evaluate, and improve the FSF’s advocacy and education campaigns. The team also works closely with other FSF departments, including licensing, operations, and tech. The position will start by taking responsibility for existing campaigns in support of the GNU Project, free software adoption, free media formats, and freedom on the network; and against Digital Restrictions Management (DRM), software patents, and proprietary software.

Examples of job responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Planning and participating in online and physical actions to
achieve our campaign goals;

Setting specific goals for each action and then measuring our
success in achieving them;

Doing the writing and messaging work needed to effectively explain
our campaigns and motivate people to support them;

Overseeing or doing the graphic design work to make our campaigns
and their Web sites attractive;

Supporting and attending special events, including
community-building activities and our annual LibrePlanet conference;

Assisting with annual online and mail fundraising efforts;

Working with our tech team on the technology choices and
deployments — especially of Web publication systems like Drupal
and Plone — for our campaign sites; and

Being an approachable, humble, and friendly representative of the
FSF to our worldwide community of existing supporters and the
broader public, both in person and online.

Ideal candidates have at least three to five years of work experience in online issue advocacy and free software; proficiency and comfort with professional writing and publications preferred. Because the FSF works globally and seeks to have our materials distributed in as many languages as possible, multilingual candidates will have an advantage. With our small staff of fourteen, each person makes a clear contribution. We work hard, but offer a humane and fun work environment at an office located in the heart of downtown Boston. The FSF is a mature but growing organization that provides great potential for advancement; existing staff get the first chance at any new job openings.

Benefits and salary

This job is a union position that must be worked on-site at the FSF’s downtown Boston office. The salary is fixed at $63,253/year and is non-negotiable. Other benefits include:

Full individual or family health coverage through Blue Cross/Blue Shield’s HMO Blue program;

Subsidized dental plan;

Four weeks of paid vacation annually;

Seventeen paid holidays annually;

Weekly remote work allowance;

Public transit commuting cost reimbursement;

403(b) program through TIAA with employer match;

Yearly cost-of-living pay increases (based on government guidelines);

Healthcare expense reimbursement budget;

Ergonomic budget;

Relocation (to Boston area) expense reimbursement;

Conference travel and professional development opportunities; and

Potential for an annual performance bonus.

Application instructions

Applications must be submitted via email to hiring@fsf.org. The email must contain the subject line “Campaigns manager”. A complete application should include:

Cover letter, including a brief example of a time you motivated and organized others to take action on an issue important to you;

Resume;

Two recent writing samples;

Links to any talks you have given (optional); and

Graphic design samples (optional).

All materials must be in a free format (such as plain text, PDF, or OpenDocument). Email submissions that do not follow these instructions will probably be overlooked. No phone calls, please.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. To guarantee consideration, submit your application by Sunday, April 28th.

The FSF is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or application for employment on the basis of race, color, marital status, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, handicap, or any other legally protected status recognized by federal, state or local law. We value diversity in our workplace.

About the Free Software Foundation

The Free Software Foundation, founded in 1985, is dedicated to promoting computer users’ right to use, study, copy, modify, and redistribute computer programs. The FSF promotes the development and use of free (as in freedom) software — particularly the GNU operating system and its GNU/Linux variants — and free documentation for free software. The FSF also helps to spread awareness of the ethical and political issues of freedom in the use of software, and its Web sites, located at fsf.org and gnu.org, are an important source of information about GNU/Linux. Donations to support the FSF’s work can be made at https://donate.fsf.org. We are based in Boston, MA, USA.

BOSTON, Massachusetts, USA — Saturday, March 23, 2019 — The Free
Software Foundation (FSF) recognizes OpenStreetMap with the 2018
Free Software Award for Projects of Social Benefit and Deborah
Nicholson with the Award for the Advancement of Free Software. FSF
president Richard M. Stallman presented the awards today in a yearly
ceremony during the LibrePlanet 2019 conference at the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology (MIT).

The Award for Projects of Social Benefit is presented to a
project or team responsible for applying free software, or the ideas
of the free software movement, to intentionally and significantly
benefit society. This award stresses the use of free software in
service to humanity.

This year the FSF awarded OpenStreetMap and the award was accepted by
Kate Chapman, chairperson of the OpenStreetMap Foundation and
co-founder of the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT).

OpenStreetMap is a collaborative project to create a free editable map
of the world. Founded by Steve Coast in the UK in 2004, OpenStreetMap
is built by a community of over one million community members and has
found its application on thousands of Web sites, mobile apps, and
hardware devices. OpenStreetMap is the only truly global service
without restrictions on use or availability of map information.

Stallman emphasized the importance of OpenStreetMap in a time where
geotech and geo-thinking are highly prevalent. “It has been clear for
decades that map data are important. Therefore we need a free
collection of map data. The name OpenStreetMap doesn’t say so
explicitly, but its map data is free. It is the free replacement that
the Free World needs.”

Kate thanked the Free Software Foundation and the large community of
contributors of OpenStreetMap. “In 2004, much of the geospatial data
was either extraordinarily expensive or unavailable. Our strong
community of people committed to free and open map information has
changed that. Without the leadership before us from groups such as the
Free Software Foundation, we would not have been able to grow and
develop to the resource we are today.”

The Award for the Advancement of Free Software goes to an
individual who has made a great contribution to the progress and
development of free software through activities that accord with the
spirit of free software.

This year it was presented to Deborah Nicholson, who, motivated by the
intersection of technology and social justice, advocates access to
political information, unfettered freedom of speech and assembly, and
civil liberties in our increasingly digital world. She joined the free
software movement in 2006 after years of local organizing for free
speech, marriage equality, government transparency and access to the
political process. The Free Software Foundation recognizes her as an
exceptional opinion leader, activist and community advocate.

Deborah is the director of community operations at the Software
Freedom Conservancy, where she supports the work of its member
organizations and facilitates collaboration with the wider free
software community. She has served as the membership coordinator for
the Free Software Foundation, where she created the Women’s
Caucus to increase recruitment and retention of women in the free
software community. She has been widely recognized for her volunteer
work with GNU MediaGoblin, a federated media-publishing platform,
and OpenHatch, free software’s welcoming committee. She continues
her work as a founding organizer of the Seattle GNU/Linux
Conference, an annual event dedicated to surfacing new voices and
welcoming new people to the free software community.

Stallman praised her body of work and her unremitting and widespread
contributions to the free software community. “Deborah continuously
reaches out to, and engages, new audiences with her message on the
need for free software in any version of the future.”

Deborah continued: “Free software is critically important for
autonomy, privacy and a healthy democracy — but it can’t achieve that
if it is only accessible for some, or if it is alienating for large
swathes of people. That’s why it’s so important that we continue
surfacing new voices, making room for non-coders and welcoming new
contributors into the free software community. I also find that in
addition to helping us build a better, bigger movement, the work of
welcoming is extremely rewarding.”

Nominations for both awards are submitted by members of the public,
then evaluated by an award committee composed of previous winners and
FSF founder and president Richard Stallman.

About the Free Software Foundation

The Free Software Foundation, founded in 1985, is dedicated to
promoting computer users’ right to use, study, copy, modify, and
redistribute computer programs. The FSF promotes the development and
use of free (as in freedom) software — particularly the GNU operating
system and its GNU/Linux variants — and free documentation for free
software. The FSF also helps to spread awareness of the ethical and
political issues of freedom in the use of software, and its Web sites,
located at https://fsf.org and https://gnu.org, are an important
source of information about GNU/Linux. Donations to support the FSF’s
work can be made at https://my.fsf.org/donate. Its headquarters are
in Boston, MA, USA.

More information about the FSF, as well as important information for
journalists and publishers, is at https://www.fsf.org/press.

These are not the first devices from ThinkPenguin to receive RYF certification. This fresh batch joins four previously certified devices in the ThinkPenguin lineup. With these additions, ThinkPenguin becomes one of the largest retailers of RYF-certified devices.

“I’m excited about this announcement, because this collection of devices includes some for which there previously was no certified option. These certifications get us closer to our goal of making sure there is a certified device in each product category, to meet all users’ needs,” said the FSF’s executive director, John Sullivan.

“I’ve always believed that the biggest difficulty for users in the free software world has been in obtaining compatible hardware, and so I’m glad to be participating in the expansion of the RYF program” said Christopher Waid, founder and CEO of ThinkPenguin.

ThinkPenguin, Inc. was one of the first companies to receive RYF certification, gaining their first and second certifications in 2013, and adding several more over the years since.

“ThinkPenguin has excelled for years in providing users with the tools they need to control their own computing. We are excited by these new additions today, and look forward to what they have in store for the future,” said the FSF’s licensing and compliance manager, Donald Robertson, III.

To learn more about the Respects Your Freedom certification program, including details on the certification of these ThinkPenguin devices, please visit https://fsf.org/ryf.

About the Free Software Foundation

The Free Software Foundation, founded in 1985, is dedicated to
promoting computer users’ right to use, study, copy, modify, and
redistribute computer programs. The FSF promotes the development and
use of free (as in freedom) software — particularly the GNU operating
system and its GNU/Linux variants — and free documentation for free
software. The FSF also helps to spread awareness of the ethical and
political issues of freedom in the use of software, and its Web sites,
located at https://fsf.org and https://gnu.org, are an important
source of information about GNU/Linux. Donations to support the FSF’s
work can be made at https://donate.fsf.org. Its headquarters are in
Boston, MA, USA.

More information about the FSF, as well as important information for
journalists and publishers, is at https://www.fsf.org/press.

About ThinkPenguin, Inc.

Started by Christopher Waid, founder and CEO, ThinkPenguin, Inc., is a consumer-driven company with a mission to bring free software to the masses. At the core of company is a catalog of computers and accessories with broad support for GNU/Linux. The company provides technical support for end-users and works with the community, distributions, and upstream projects to make GNU/Linux all that it can be.

CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, USA — Thursday, March 14, 2019 — Next
weekend, the Free Software Foundation (FSF) presents the eleventh annualLibrePlanet free software conference in Cambridge, March
23-24, 2019, at the Stata Center at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. LibrePlanet is an annual conference for
people who care about their digital freedoms, bringing together
software developers, policy experts, activists, and computer
users to learn skills, share accomplishments, and tackle
challenges facing the free software movement, including 3D printing, cryptography, medical devices, privacy, security, and current issues in software licensing. LibrePlanet 2019 will focus on the exploration of software freedom and how to bring to life trailblazing, principled new technologies.

LibrePlanet 2019 will include four keynotes. Tarek Loubani, an emergency physician, will talk about his work on making medical devices accessible through free designs that meet medical industry standards. Micky Metts, a member of the Agaric Design Collective, will talk about your collective and individual roles in maintaining your freedoms, with free software as the foundation. Bdale Garbee, longtime free software contributor and former Debian Project Leader, will tell us about the fun in free software, using personal anecdotes as examples. Richard Stallman, founder of the FSF and president of the board of directors, will discuss current issues facing user freedom, and announce the winners of the 2018 Free Software Foundation awards.

“What makes LibrePlanet great is how it brings everyone from old hand activists to new free software enthusiasts from around the world to exchange ideas, collaborate, and take on challenges to software freedom,”
said John Sullivan, executive director of the FSF. “We run the event using entirely free software, putting our ideals into action. This conference builds the
software community, by offering opportunities for those who cannot
attend to participate remotely via watching a multi-channel
livestream and online voice and text conversations.”

In addition to keynote presentations, LibrePlanet will include: 36 sessions; a party and a hack night on Saturday; an exhibit hall with exciting free software projects, nonprofits, and companies; and community organized meetups. Sessions include such topics as “The Tor Project: State of the Onion,” “Australia’s decryption law and free software,” “Free software in the 3D printing community,” and the “The Right to Repair & the DMCA.” There will be talks on activism, case studies, communities, licensing and legal issues, and technical issues.

Attendees may register online until Tuesday, March 19 at 10:00 EDT, after which point they can register onsite at the conference, space permitting. Attendance is gratis for students and FSF members. Journalists interested in press passes should contact campaigns@fsf.org.

LibrePlanet is financially supported in part by Red Hat and Private Internet Access.

About LibrePlanet

LibrePlanet is the annual conference of the Free Software
Foundation. What was once a small gathering of FSF
members has grown into a larger event for anyone with an interest
in the values of software freedom. LibrePlanet is always gratis
for associate members of the FSF and students. Sign up for
announcements about the LibrePlanet conference here.

About the Free Software Foundation

The FSF, founded in 1985, is dedicated to promoting computer
users’ right to use, study, copy, modify, and redistribute
computer programs. The FSF promotes the development and use of
free (as in freedom) software — particularly the GNU operating
system and its GNU/Linux variants — and free documentation for
free software. The FSF also helps to spread awareness of the
ethical and political issues of freedom in the use of software,
and its Web sites, located at https://fsf.org andhttps://gnu.org, are an important source of information about
GNU/Linux. Donations to support the FSF’s work can be made athttps://donate.fsf.org. Its headquarters are in Boston, MA,
USA.

More information about the FSF, as well as important information
for journalists and publishers, is athttps://www.fsf.org/press.

“Software filters the information we receive about the world, the
messages we put out into the world, and even the way we physically
move in the world,” said FSF executive director John Sullivan in his
introduction to the FY2017 report. “If the software is not free ‘as in
freedom’… the consequences for the rest of us will be loss of
democracy, privacy, security, freedom of speech, freedom of movement
— and even loss of life.”

The FSF publishes its financials and annual report as part of
their commitment to transparency. Along with its strong financial
health, accountability and transparency are the reasons the FSF is aCharity Navigator Four Star Charity.

As with all of the Foundation’s activities, the Annual Report was made
using free software, including Pelican, Scribus, GIMP, and Inkscape,
along with freely licensed fonts and images. If you would like a
printed copy of the Annual Report, or have any questions or comments,
please email campaigns@fsf.org.

About the Free Software Foundation

The Free Software Foundation, founded in 1985, is dedicated to
promoting computer users’ right to run, change, share, and contribute
to computer programs. The FSF promotes the development and use of free
(as in freedom) software — particularly the GNU operating system and
its GNU/Linux variants — and free documentation for free
software. The FSF also helps to spread awareness of the ethical and
political issues of freedom in the use of software, and its Web sites,
located at https://fsf.org and https://gnu.org, are an important
source of information about GNU/Linux. Donations to support the FSF’s
work can be made at https://donate.fsf.org. Its headquarters are in
Boston, MA, USA.

More information about the FSF, as well as important information for
journalists and publishers, is at https://www.fsf.org/press.

Media Contact

These are the fourth and fifth devices from Vikings to
receive RYF certification. The Vikings D8 Mainboard is an ASUS
KCMA-D8 that comes with Trisquel GNU/Linux. Like the previously
certified Vikings D16, it is a powerful mainboard suitable for
use as a workstation or server. The Vikings D8 Workstation brings the
D8 Mainboard together with a variety of options to provide a robust
workstation for users. Both are available for purchase athttps://store.vikings.net.

“The more options users have for RYF-certified mainboards, the easier
it is for them to build a machine that is completely under their
control. Having an already assembled workstation available as an
option is also a great improvement to the program. This is an area in
which we hope to see continued growth, so that every user can get what
they want when it comes to a server or workstation,” said the FSF’s
licensing and compliance manager, Donald Robertson, III.

Vikings received their first three certifications in spring
of 2017, and has steadily worked to continue offering new
RYF-certifiable devices.

“When we announced the first certifications for Vikings we knew they
would be back soon with even more. Vikings is building an impressive
lineup of freedom-respecting hardware and we’re excited to see the D8
Mainboard and Workstation as their latest additions,” said the FSF’s
executive director, John Sullivan.

“The Vikings Store is dedicated to helping users purchase ready to go,
libre-friendly systems. Together with the Free Software Foundation, we
have put a lot of effort into offering a high-performance,
owner-controllable system at an affordable price. This machine is
aimed at the security-conscious, as well as users who prefer a
computer that runs free software from the ground up as an ethical
choice. That is why we are pleased to see the Vikings D8 Workstation
receive RYF certification. We would like to thank Timothy Pearson of
Raptor Engineering, Inc. for their reverse engineering and porting
work which laid the very foundation for making this possible,” said
Vikings CEO Thomas Umbach.

To learn more about the Respects Your Freedom certification program,
including details on the certification of the Vikings D8 Workstation
and Mainboard, please visit https://fsf.org/ryf.

About the Free Software Foundation

The Free Software Foundation, founded in 1985, is dedicated to
promoting computer users’ right to use, study, copy, modify, and
redistribute computer programs. The FSF promotes the development and
use of free (as in freedom) software — particularly the GNU operating
system and its GNU/Linux variants — and free documentation for free
software. The FSF also helps to spread awareness of the ethical and
political issues of freedom in the use of software, and its Web sites,
located at https://fsf.org and https://gnu.org, are an important
source of information about GNU/Linux. Donations to support the FSF’s
work can be made at https://donate.fsf.org. Its headquarters are in
Boston, MA, USA.

More information about the FSF, as well as important information for
journalists and publishers, is at https://www.fsf.org/press.

About Vikings

Vikings ships libre-friendly hardware world-wide and has an
ever-growing number of FSF RYF certfified devices that truly respects
your freedom. Vikings is also the world’s first libre-friendly hosting
company running on fully libre hosting software and a libre-friendly
and owner-controllable hardware platform. All services are based
on 100% libre software and are powered by 100% certified green
energy.